'Maniac' driver David Atkinson has been jailed after leading police on a dangerous chase at speeds of up to 80mph in residential 30 zones.

Atkinson was already banned from the roads when he bought a Volvo in an act of 'lunacy' and got behind the wheel while high on cocaine.

When police tried to pull him over in Sunderland, he put his foot down in a desperate bid to escape, creating such a high level of peril, police had to pull out of the pursuit twice.

Even when police burst three of his tyres using a stinger, he continued driving on the A19.

Now Atkinson, who admitted dangerous driving and associated offences, has been jailed for 14 months at Newcastle Crown Court.

Liam O'Brien, prosecuting, said it was just after midnight on January 11 that police saw Atkinson driving a Volvo V70 and decided to follow him due to "the demeanour of the driver and the look of the vehicle".

Atkinson sped up then refused to stop when indicated to do so.

David Atkinson

Mr O'Brien said: "For a period of nearly 20 minutes, he drove in an appallingly dangerous manner.

"He drove at well in excess of the speed limit and was doing around 80mph in a 30 zone in residential estates.

"He drove straight through a series of red traffic lights, nearly colliding with several other vehicles and drove on the wrong side of the carriageway.

"The driving was so dangerous, on two occasions the police deemed it necessary to abandon the pursuit.

"He only stopped after a stinger was deployed and knocked out three of his tyres but even then he continued to drove for some time on the southbound carriageway of the A19, before coming to a stop."

Atkinson tried to throw away two bags of cocaine before he was arrested. He was found to be over the limit for the drug.

The 24-year-old, of Jacques Street, Pallion, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving under the influence of drugs, failing to stop, no insurance and possessing class A drugs.

He has nine previous convictions, including for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no insurance, in December 2018. After failing to comply with a suspended sentence for that, he was jailed for 20 weeks.

Locking him up and banning him from driving for three years and seven months, Judge Julie Clemitson told him: "You drove at ridiculous speeds, up to 80mph in a 30 limit.

"This pursuit lasted more than 18 minutes, it was dark and there were other road users and vehicles put at risk by you.

"It was extremely dangerous and you are fortunate you didn't seriously hurt or kill another road user or, indeed, yourself.

"You had drugs in your system while you were driving like a maniac."

Nick Peacock, defending, said: "It's an appalling piece of driving, the defendant can't get around that at all.

"He can offer no explanation why, being a disqualified driver, he decided to purchase a motor vehicle. It just seems utter lunacy and he accepts that.

"He struggles with maturity but there's some hope this man will start complying."